78R6915 GWK-D

By:  Allen                                                        H.B. No. 1853



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the operation and maintenance of facilities of the 
Texas Department of Criminal Justice and to the operation of 
certain department industries.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Section 493.0054 to read as follows:
	Sec. 493.0054.  MANUFACTURING AND LOGISTICS DIVISION.  The 
manufacturing and logistics division shall perform tasks assigned 
the division by the board and also perform all tasks at the 
department related to:
		(1)  the construction and maintenance of department 
facilities; and  
		(2)  the vocational education of inmates.                              
	SECTION 2.  Section 497.024, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
	(d)  This section applies to the department in the same 
manner as it applies to other agencies of the state.
	(e)  The office at least once each year shall determine 
whether there are articles or products needed by the department 
that are not produced by but could be produced by the office.
	SECTION 3.  Section 497.062(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  The authority may certify any number of private sector 
prison industries programs that meet or exceed the requirements of 
federal law and the rules of the authority[, but in no event may the 
authority permit more than 2,000 participants in the program at any 
one time].
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.